Can’t blame my leg: Chase Elliott is gutted as he calls a bad effort amid big cuts series comeback

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Even the best athletes can lose their edge after a break. Cup Series star Chase Elliott knows this all too well. Following a snowboarding accident that injured his leg, the Hendrick Motorsports rider had to take a break for a while.

This weekend, Elliott made his highly anticipated return to the Martinsville track. However, things didn’t quite go as planned. Struggling to regain his best form, Elliott managed a disappointing 24th in qualifying. Dissatisfied with the result but not demotivated, the talented rider opened up about the challenges he faced to get back up to speed in an on-track interview.

After running 37 laps, Chase Elliott discusses the level of pain in his leg

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Asked about the condition of his leg by a FOX Sports reporter, Elliott replied: Yeah, I felt pretty good. I had a disastrous qualifying lap, but I can’t blame my leg on that one.

I did a very good first lap, but then I really missed my second. So judging the workout starting with the back is going to be a lot of fun. So looking forward to that in the old NAPA Chevy.

WATCH THIS STORY: Chase Elliott’s recent injury update leads fans to anticipate Hendrick Motorsports stars’ return to legendary NASCAR racing

Asked about lingering pain in his leg after completing 37 laps, Elliott had some positives to share. He pointed out that he had no problems during the entire practice session, saying that I felt good in the car. So, like I said, the whole practice lap I felt good. And, once you’re on the track, you start focusing on the little things you need to do, some of them disappear, so that’s a good thing.

Again, my qualifying lap wasn’t because of that. It was just a poor effort.

Judging by his morale, it looks like Elliott is ready to get back in his #9 Chevy NAPA. Let’s see what his godfather has to say about it.

Chase Elliotts sponsor happy with how HMS handled his absence

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In light of Chase Elliott’s return this weekend, his main sponsor NAPA Auto Parts said he was pleased with the way HMS handled his absence.

Elliott’s absence left NAPA Auto Parts, its longtime title sponsor, without their star driver for over a month. Despite the challenges, NAPA, which has supported Elliott for a decade, said it was pleased with how HMS had handled the situation. According to the Sports Business Journal, Kevin Herron, president of Genuine Parts Company (which owns NAPA), commented that he was really happy with the lineup of replacement riders that HMS put together over the six weeks.

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NAPA, holding the majority of prime paint jobs on Hendrick Motorsports #9 Chevrolet, invests millions in the team every year. Additionally, team owner Rick Hendricks, the auto dealership empire, Hendrick Automotive Group, is engaged in a B2B relationship with NAPA, sourcing parts from them. As a result, during Elliott’s absence, HMS likely focused on keeping operations running smoothly. It’s definitely a welcome sight to have Elliott back on track this weekend.

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